St Naul's and Cloughaneely look to hold SFC status and end difficult year on a high

Cloughaneely and St Naul’s are this week preparing for the biggest game of their season and their fight to retain their SFC standing.  

After losing to Aodh Ruadh and Glenfin respectively in the opening round of relegation play-offs, the pair now go head-to-head on Saturday afternoon in Pairc Naomh Columba in Glenswilly in what is a back-to-the-walls clash. 

St Naul’s lost out in their semi-final play-off to Glenfin after giving the men from the Gaeltacht Lár a run for their money in Tir Chonaill Park.   

Just two points separated the sides at the finish with Glenfin emerging winners on a 0-10 to 0-8 scoreline.  

Cloughaneely, on the other hand, suffered a big defeat in their semi-final relegation play-off clash with Aodh Ruadh in MacCumhaill Park when the Ernesiders ran out 2-15 to 0-9 winners in that tie.  

It has been a tough season for Cloughaneely and St Naul’s with both hit badly with key personnel missing the entire championship campaign. 

All-Star nominee full-back Brendan McCole has missed all of St Naul’s five games to date after undergoing surgery during the summer on a foot injury. 

And Cloughaneely have been without their main marksman and leader of their attack, John Fitzgerald after he suffered a nasty ankle injury in the latter stages of the league.    

Donegal midfielder Jason McGee is their high-profile absentee in the SFC and it remains to be seen whether he can have any kind of involvement in this crucial fixture at the weekend. 

Both sides have suffered a number of injuries in the course of the campaign with St Naul’s again hardest hit with the loss of player/manager Stephen Griffin in the latter stages of the group games.  

Stephen’s brother Barry also missed the Dungloe and Glenfin game after suffering an injury to his ribs against Killybegs. Still, St Nauls will - on the back of their performances to date - go into Saturday’s tie as slight favourites.  

But Cloughaneely, despite that bruising defeat by Aodh Ruadh, will draw confidence from the fact their best performance in the championship was in Pairc Naomh Columba against Glenswilly.  

They ran Glenswilly to two points in that game and had a great chance of a third goal late on that could have snatched a dramatic win.  

Saturday’s game is a one off and with championship status on the line it will all come down to who wants it most.  

For the victors, senior championship football again next season is the prize. And for the vanquished, it is the trap door towards intermediate football in 2025.